Post MoM AU, general post

[use_everything]

And then one day, it was over.

The memory of how it happened was hazy. Perhaps it was as simple as being ported out, perhaps there was a great experiment, bringing together physicists, chemists, alchemists and scientists to get something WORKING. But like the memories of that time, that other dimension, singular events come and go, like a dream, or an age past.

From the very start, however, there were changes.

Comments

[jacksonian]

[ Mark, of course, doesn't shout with terror; he's not the sort to react that visibly. Instead, he stiffens, and draws in a sharp breath, and a tremor runs through him. His eyes widen. He doesn't say anything; he just goes pale, his gaze flickering over Miles and over the room as he tries to figure out if he is fucking going crazy. ]

[dendarii]

[ Good. That gives him a chance to come closer. He flutters up to perch (gently) on Mark's hand. ]

I think you could snap my neck very easily like this. Steal my clothes, walk downstairs and pretend that something had gone horribly wrong.

[jacksonian]

[ That suggestion gets a reaction from him, a full-body convulsion that ends with him frantically waving his hand to dislodge Miles. With an edge of panic in his voice, he grates out at him - ]

Get - get off. Get away from me.

[dendarii]

[ Whoops. Miles flutters back then, perching on the antique wooden dresser instead. ]

You're not going to. I know you're not going to.

[jacksonian]

[ He leans against the doorframe, breath quick as he fights off a small panic attack. And he nearly shouts back at him: ]

Well, stay the fuck away, so that I can't!

[ And then he wraps his arms around himself miserably. What if this is programming? What if I'm not even in control? They trust me, but I don't even know who I am... He feels crazy right now. Miles turned into a fucking bird. ]

[dendarii]

[ This is really not going the way he planned. For now, he stays where he is. If only to give Mark enough space to recover. ]

You didn't believe me.

[jacksonian]

[ He leans his head against the doorjamb and moans - ]

I didn't believe what?

[dendarii]

You're part of our family. And we don't to use you for anything else. I want a brother ...

[ The longing in his voice is keen for a moment. God, he misses the relationship he'd had with Mark on Earth. Complicated, messy, but dammit if they don't love each other in their own ways. ]

[jacksonian]

[ There's a moment, and then he slides down to sitting, huddling in a little ball on the floor, defensive. Defensive not just of himself, though: he doesn't want to be able to - lunge for Miles, to hurt him... ]

I don't even know who I am. I don't even know...what I am. Six months ago I was at the clone-creche, and then...Galen. And then this...

[dendarii]

[ Miles flutters down to the floor. Still safely out of reach, but closer. ]

You're Mark. That means whatever you want it to mean. And you can stay here while you figure that out.

[jacksonian]

Stay here. In reach of people I was supposed to -

[ To hurt. ]

[dendarii]

You won't. I know you won't.

[ He hops closer. ]

[jacksonian]

Yeah? Are you psychic as well as a fucking bird?

[dendarii]

... Actually. I am. But not with you. I have some odd limitations.

[jacksonian]

[ A beat, and then he lets out a rather shrill laugh. ]

[dendarii]

And I can shrink too, independent of - well, this.

[ He flaps a wing. ]

That's all though.

[jacksonian]

[ He presses his face into his hands and moans: ]

I've gone crazy.

[dendarii]

You're not crazy. [ Said firmly. ] Ask Da. He'll confirm it.

[jacksonian]

It's your revenge. For what I was involved with...Driving me crazy.

[dendarii]

[ Milse cocks his head. ]

And supposing I couldn't actually turn into a bird. How would I be faking this?

[jacksonian]

[ He shakes his head. ]

I don't know. There are - lots of things I don't know anything about.

[dendarii]

[ Another hop closer. ]

That's true. But it's real, I swear it. And the point of all this isn't to drive you crazy.

[jacksonian]

Then why can you do that?

[ A beat. ]

I can't do that.

[dendarii]

[ Oh boy. He's not sure there's a gentle way into this topic ... ]

Have you ever been to Earth, Mark?

[jacksonian]

[ A pause, and then a cautious nod. ]